Electric switch



L'G. PETERSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31, I9l7- 1,361,2 7, Patented Dec. @1920.

so i Y 31 A ffarrjeg OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

JOHANN G. PETERSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed December 31, 1917.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, JOHANN G. Pnrnnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, cation.

This invention relates to electric switches, one of the primary motives I have in view is the provision of means of a simple and effective nature by which an operating device will be caused positively to move in -a definite path which in the present case is a straight line. This operating device is operatively associated with what may be considered a controller which may take any convenient form. As a matter of preference, though not essentially, the controller is in the form of what is known as a rocker, while the operating device is in the form of a button. As a matter of further preference and especially in the type of switch which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification, this rocker is supported for oscillation between its ends, and there are ted thereof which the following is a specifitwo buttons associ with and connected to the rocker at opposite sides of its center of motion, one button being intended to effect the on relation of the switch, and the other the off relation through the intervention as is customary of spring or equivalent means, the button or buttons preferably presenting the primary power. As will be inferred T have illustrated a structure which meets my conditions in an eminently desirable manner, and to enable those skilled in the art to practise the invention I will set forth this rather in detail in the said description. As will be clear I do not restrict myself to this disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a switch involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the rockerand buttons, the spindle being shown by cross section and the full and dotted lines showing the parts in their two extreme positions.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation as seen for ins ecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920. Serial No. 209,714.

stance from the left in Fig. 1 of the rocker and buttons, one of the latter being represented by dotted lines to indicate how it may be applied and removed.

Llke characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. As Wlll be clear the invention may be incorporated in electric switches of various kinds; that shown is a twoebutton snap switch. The different parts of a switch comprising the invention except as to the push buttons, are inclosed in a boxing or casing such as that denoted in a general way by 2, which is provided with a cover usually in the form of a plate 3. This is merely one way of carrying the several parts. The cover or plate after'the customary the boxing or casing 2', which. is ordinarily of some insulating material as quite common in fact. In the boxing or casin are contacts as 4 and 5 mounted suitably tTiere- 'in and provided with means for the connection therewith of leads or conducting wires.

The bottom of the boxing or casing has connected therewith the support 6 which carries at or near its upper end the spindle 7. The spindle 7 loosely carries the rocker 8, and this rocker is one of several forms of controller embodying the invention. I term it controller as it is through its intervention that the action of the switching member is controlled or governedp The rocker has, of course, a central perforation for the passage of the spindle 7 and associated with it at opposite sides of its center of oscillation by buttons such as those denoted in a general way by 9 and 10' respectively, one button when advanced acting through the controller and intermediate parts to secure the on relation, the off condition being accomplished through the companion button. a

The spindle 7 also loosely supports substantially centrally thereof trolling or switching member 11 provided with the blades 12 and 13 cooperative respectively with the contacts 4 and 5. In Fig. lthe full lines show the circuit controlling or:

"switching member 11 in the off relation.

hen it is in the on relation the ends-of the blades 12 and 13 will be against the contacts 1 and 5 as understood. Loose on the spindle 7 is the sleeve 14 having a rigid connection fashion is connected with the body of the circuit con- 1 portion of the rocker 8.

' the left branch of upon opposite arcs, although it is not as shown being struck with the controller,actuator or rocker 8. Around the sleeve 14 is the body of the coiled spring 15, the terminals 16 and 17 of the spring bearing against the offset 18 of the upstanding arm 19, extending in an upward direction from the central upper portion of the rocker 8. tends upward from the body of the circuit and engaged by th of the branches 16 and 17 when theswitch is in its on and off positions respectively. The circuit controlling or switchingmember 11 is also provided with a pendent extension 22 cooperative with the latch 23 having a detent portion 24 to be engaged by the pendent portion 22 when the circuit controlling or switching member is in its two extreme ositions. The latch 23 is provided with a stud 25 fitting the arcuate slot 26 in the lower The switch as I have already indicated is in the off relation in Fig. 1'. To secure the on? condition the following procedure may be adopted: The button 9 will be thrust down and this as I will hereinafter explain will impart a vcorresponding movement to the rocker. On such movement of the rocker the walls of the slot 26 will engage the pin 25, thereby lowering the latch 23 and carrying the offset 24 from out of contact with the extension releasing the switching member 11, so that the latter can be snapped to its closed position through the agenc of the spring 15, as I will now explain. n the initial downward movement of the button 9 and the cooperating branch of the rocker in the man ner set forth, the projection 18 will act against the branch 16 of the spring 15 and will thus tension or compress the spring, so that when the latch 23 releases the switching member ll as I have just set forth, the branch 17 of the spring by acting against the offset 21 can instantaneously snap or throw the switching member 11 to the closed position at which point it is clear the terminal portions 12 and 13 will en gage the contacts 4 and 5. I have in rather a concise manner or as briefly as possible set forth a structure and mode of operation thereof, this structure being one of several. with which my improvement can be incorporated in an effective manner. The improvement per se hinges upon the rocker 8 and buttons 9 and 10 or equivalents and certain coacting parts.

The rocker 8 has at opposite sides of its axis of oscillation the somewhat elongated slots 30 and 31, the ends of these slots being always so. The inner walls are arcuate, their arcs practically and prefnecessary that this be 32 and 33 of the slots The arm 20 also ex- 22, thus I erably from the center of motion of the rocker. Said walls 32 and 33, therefore, may be considered as bulging or bowing outwardly. The outer walls of the slots consist of two portions denoted respectively by 34, 35, 36 and 37, the portions 34 and 35 and 36 and 3'? presenting practically wedges, and they converge approximately on the transverse center lines of the respective slots 30 and 31.

Each of the buttons 9 and 10 comprisesa body' or shank portion as 38 and a head or button as 39, the shanks or bodies being like the rocker8 of sheet metal, while the buttons are of some non-conducting substance such as common in the art. Each body at least for practically its major portion, is straight as a matter of preference, its upper end being turned outward as at 40 to act as an adequate support for the insulating buttons 39. The outwardly turned portions 40 are furnished with the extensions 41 onto which the substance of the buttons is preferably molded,othe extensions 41 terminating in laterally expanded portions 42 by which the buttons can be properly an-t chored to the extensions. The bodies or shanks 38 at their lower ends have open slots 43, the consequence being that the shanks or bodies are forked at their free or lower ends, the slots being practically midway of the width of the respective bodies 38. n addition to these end slots 43, the bodies upper ends the lateral at 45 to facilitate the bodies with the rocker 8.

To connect a body or shank as 38 with the rocker 8, the following procedure may be adopted: The bod r or shank 38 in question with the button 39 applied thereto will be held at a slant and the lower portion of the body will be introduced into its slot for instance the slot 30 and brought to an upright downward so that its lower forked end can be brought into straddling relation wlth the lower part of the rocker 8., A or body 38 approaches the rocker, the upper passed through its the face plate 3. The same procedure will, of course, be followed with the other but ton 10. I

It will be clear that owing to the construction described, the buttons 9 and 10 will with the parts be assembled and b tained at all times in as nearly as practicable a right line which is an important con mechanism, and

As one button moves down and the other up, the curved faces 32 and 33 will travel against the inner sides of the shanks 38, while the outer'converging faces 34 and 85, and 36 and 37 will engage the outer faces of said shanks and thus positively and effectually guide the shanks in an approximately straight line which is a consideration of some importance. In reality the converging faces 34 and 35, and 36 and 37 respectively maintain the shanks in proper guide contact with the curved faces 32 and 33, so that the use of extraneous means for this particular purpose is unnecessary. It will, of course, be understood that the power of the shanks 38 is applied to the rocker 8 for oscillating the same through the upper walls of the slots 4L3, this obviously being'effected in alternation.

One advantage in the straight line movement of the buttons 9 and 10 is the fact that these buttons can be closely fitted into guide openings in the face plate 3 so as to prevent dust and other foreign substances entering the casing ,by way of the openings through which the buttons pass. This same advantage follows when there is only one button. There is a further advantage in that the button or buttons, do not rock when operated or manipulated, on movement in straight paths or directions. Also where a mechanical device acts on the button, it is natural that if the button has a side movement that it is subjected to wear which would not be the case if the button mover in a straight direction and this applies whether there is a face plate or not.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching a button to operate the rocker, the rocker having a slot, the button straddling the rocker, and a walled part of the slot maintaining the button in an approximately straight path on its opera-- tion of the rocker.

2. An electric switch comprising switch ing mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, and a button straddling the rocker, the rocker having means to positi vely maintain the button in an approximately straight path on its operation of the rocker.

3. An electric switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, and a button to operate the rocker, the rocker having a slot, the button extending into the slot and straddling the rocker, and a walled part of the slot maintaining the button in an approximately straight path on its operation of the rocker.

sideration.

4. An electric switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, a button to operate the rocker, the rocker having a slot, a walled part 0 which constitutes means for maintaining the button in an approximately straight path on the operation of the rocker by the button, and a face plate having a guide opening to receive said button for back and forth movements.

5. A switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker for effecting on and off movements of the switching mechanism, and buttons straddling the rocker for operating the same in opposite directions, the buttons having sliding engagement with the rocker at opposite sides of the axis of oscillation thereof, and the rocker 'having'means to maintain the buttons in an approximately straight line on their operation of the rocker.

6. A switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, and a lever to operate the rocker, the but ton straddling the rocker and having a sliding engagement therewith, and the switch having means to positively cause the button 'to follow a predetermined path.

7. An electric switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, buttons to operate the rocker in opposite directions, the rocker having slots opposite sides of its axis of motion, the buttons extending into slots and slotted to straddle the rocker, walled parts of the respective slots maintaining the buttons in approximately straight paths on the operation of the rocker.

8. A switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, the rocker having a slot, one wall of which is on an arc struck from the center of motion of the rocker, and the other wall of which has portions which converge approximately at the center of the arcuate portion of the slot, and a button to engage and operate the rocker, the walls of the slot being in contact with the button to maintain the same in an approximately straight line on its operation of the rocker.

9. A switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, the rocker having slots at opposite sides of its center of motion, the inner walls of the slots being on arcs struck from the center of motion of the rocker, and the outer walls of which have portions which converge approximately at the center of the arcuate portion of the slots, and buttons to engage and operate the rocker, the walls of the slots being in contact with the buttons to maintain thesame in an approximately straight line on their operation of the rocker.

10. A switch comprising switching mech anism, means including a rocker for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, the rocker having a slot, one wall of which is on an arc struck from the center of motion of the rocker, and the other wall of which has portions which converge, and a button to engage and operate the rocker,

the walls of the slot being in contact with the button to maintain the same in an approximately straight line on its operation of the rocker. V

11. A switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, the rocker having a slot, one wall oi which is on an arc struck from the center of motion of the rocker, and the other wall of which has portions which converge and a button. straddling and engaging the rocker to operate the same, the walls of the slot being in contact with the sides of the button to maintain the same in an approximately straight line on its operation of the rocker.

12. An electric switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, a button to operate the rocker, the rocker having a slot, the button straddling the rocker and a walled part of the slot maintaining the button in an approximately straight path on its operation of the rocker, and a member having an opening through which the butt-on extends.

1-5. A switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker for con trolling the action of the switching. mechanism, the rocker having a slot, one wall of which is on an arc struckfrom the center of motion of the rocker and the other wall of which has portions which converge approximately at the center of the arcuate portion of the slot, a button to engage and operate the rocker, the walls of the slot being in contact with the button, and a fixed part having an opening through which the button extends.

14. A switch comprising switching mechanism, means including a rocker, for controlling the action of the switching mechanism, the rocker having slots at opposite sides of center of motion, the inner walls of the slots being on arcs struck from the center of motion of the rocker and the outer walls of which have portions which converge approximately at the center of motion of the arcuate portions of the respective slots, buttons to engage and operate the rocker, the walls 0 the respective slots being in contact with the button, and a fixed member through which the buttons slidingly extend.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHANN G. PETERSON. 

